PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Fans Get Two Teams In One

By HOWARD BECK

Published: March 2, 2005

Isiah Thomas traded his starting center a week ago, and, even to the casual observer, it looked as if a white flag had been waved over the Knicks' season.

In the space of one afternoon, Thomas, the Knicks' president, shipped out Nazr Mohammed -- the team's only true center -- and three end-of-the-bench players for two forwards with redundant skills and burdensome contracts. It sent critics into a two-day howl.

The Knicks said they were planning for the future, with two extra draft picks and a pair of new players, Malik Rose and Maurice Taylor, who might be useful players or might be trade bait for the next round of face-lifts.

Not even the current Knicks were sure what to make of their revamped locker room.

''We know that if you're losing, anything can happen; anybody can go,'' said the young guard Jamal Crawford, who nevertheless noted, ''It was kind of shocking.''

The only thing more shocking is what came next: rather than collapse, the Knicks surged.

They have won three straight games since last Thursday's trades, despite their relatively short roster and a forward-heavy rotation in which the new players duplicate many of the old players' skills.

Rose is a hustling, hard-nosed, undersized power forward, but didn't the Knicks have Jerome Williams playing that role? Taylor is a jump-shooting power forward, and doesn't Kurt Thomas do that effectively?

The Knicks have for months been a team that inspires more questions than answers, and now only more so. They used to talk about finding an identity, but that pursuit now seems pointless, with only 25 games left and only an outside shot at making the playoffs.

But the contradictions are inherent in everything they do, from the front office's puzzling maneuvers to the team's wholly unpredictable performances on the court.

The trades seemed to signal an end to this season, but now they look like a beginning.

Mike Sweetney, who slid into the starting lineup after the trade, had a breakout game Monday, with 19 points and 12 rebounds in an overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Tim Thomas, burdened by injuries and personal issues all season, averaged 24.3 points over the past three games.

Rose has supplanted Williams as the energy guy off the bench. Taylor and Thomas give the Knicks two decent offensive threats in the post. Trevor Ariza, the rookie swingman, continues to make strides.

And the Knicks began yesterday five games out of the playoff picture.

So with 70 percent of the season gone, who are the Knicks? The evidence is there to support whatever conclusion one wants. Increasingly, their identity is in the eye of the beholder.

Anyone watching Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway scuffling and shouting late in the fourth quarter Monday would see dysfunction. Anyone watching them 30 minutes later, hugging and apologizing, would see a team still looking for harmony.

Anyone watching the Knicks blow a 12-point lead in the final 84 seconds Monday would see a weak-willed team. Anyone watching them then battle back from a 4-point deficit in overtime to win the game would conclude they are of strong constitution.

All things are true with these Knicks. They can be badly constructed and oddly effective at the same time; a potential playoff team and a possible lottery entry.

Which fate is more likely depends on who is doing the analysis. The Knicks maintain a stubborn optimism. They are healthier than they have been all season, with Hardaway, Crawford and Thomas all finally contributing at the same time. They are deeper than they have been all season because of the import of Rose and Taylor.

Yet the road to the playoffs looks impossible to navigate. The top two teams in the Atlantic Division got considerably stronger last week, with Philadelphia getting Chris Webber and Boston reacquiring Antoine Walker.

The Knicks (24-33) probably need to win 17 of their final 25 games to make the playoffs, and the schedule is not accommodating. They have tough road games left against Miami, Seattle, the Lakers, Indiana, Cleveland and Chicago. There are home dates against Washington (twice), Seattle, Miami, San Antonio, Boston, Chicago and Indiana.

There is ample time left for everyone's perceptions about the Knicks to be true.

Photo: The Knicks and Stephon Marbury beat the Lakers on Monday and extended their winning streak since last Thursday's trades to three games. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)(pg. D5)